PHASE I [ 9 00 ] The peace of the morning in the Residential District shatters just as the wall caves through. It’s a small segment of wall -- no more than five feet across at most. And yet the crash and groan of the metal being stretched is ominously accompanied by the distinct piercing screech of metal and another sound. A raucous noise, a combination of ungodly wailing and sharp, victorious laughter spills forth from the hole left in the wall as a myriad of ghosts and spirits erupt from the newly created exit. Characters with any type of spiritual sense will find themselves nearly overwhelmed by the amount of negative ghostly energy that suddenly floods Cerealia and characters with no sense of preservation will find any attempt to enter the hole blocked by the fiercest of ghosts, met with deadly force if they try to pass, as the ghosts won’t hesitate to do things such as reach straight into your body to try to stop your heart.
These ghosts are out for blood, and they don’t seem to stop no matter how you try to talk to them -- they just hiss out, over and over again, “Murderersmurderersmurderers.”
From there, the ghosts move on. Their true target, after all, is CERES… but to them, there’s no difference between the character players and CERES. They’ll go for whoever gets in their way, phasing through walls and becoming tangible long enough to reach for characters before fading away again. Characters with special abilities will find themselves in a similar state. Their abilities may increase and decrease in power sporadically, or be completely gone. They may attempt to cast a spell only to find that the wrong spell is cast instead, or an attempt at healing may end up a more dangerous spell. Be careful with your own magical skills!
Those with items or powers specifically intended to ward off spirits will still fulfill their intended purposes when used – unless malicious spiritual energy gets to them first.
PHASE II [ 1400 ] It seems the ghosts have more tricks up their sleeves. It seems that a not-so-friendly ghost has decided to play a game with you. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you're doing, because a moment later a voice calls out -- Hey. Can you see me? -- and once you turn your head, you’ll come face to face with a surprise.
Who is it in this world (or your world, or any world) that you have managed to disappoint the most? A family member? A friend? Yourself? They face you now, eyes full of sadness, and they say, “I need you to do something for me.” Without another word, they’ll turn away and begin to walk. Your vision grows foggy, focused solely on the need to do whatever this person wants – they need you, after all. Your legs move to follow them, unless you manage to somehow resist.
But you apparently don’t seem to notice that you’re the only one who can see this person – or that they’re leading you stray toward that monorail track with the sound of the train coming closer, or that busy intersection, or right off the sky bridge.
PHASE III [ 600 ] Other ghosts don’t feel like borrowing faces in order to inflict damage. No, they’ll inflict their damage on a far more personal level. They manifest suddenly and without warning – then all it takes is a simple touch. A ghostly hand reaches out to you and it feels like the cold wraps around your heart, and your vision skews, and then... they leave just as suddenly as they came.
Those who have been around for awhile may very well recognize the ghosts, at that.
But the damage has already been done. Depending on a character’s assigned sense, they will feel one of the following changes:
Sight: Hopefully you aren’t in the habit of bending the truth. Dead men tell no tales, they say. But what happens to a living person unable to tell lies? Any attempt at telling any lie or falsehood will cause the character to feel as though their throat has closed off, and they can do nothing more than choke.
Smell: The cold passes, but in some way that it never really leaves. And then everything seems perfectly normal. Nothing has changed, right? You're fine -- except that in a short period of time with how crazy things are, it becomes apparent that you're unable to feel pain. The damage to your body is the same as ever, but dangerously, you can't feel a thing.
Taste: It would appear as though the ghosts have a sense of humor. From those who rest in eternal slumber, try a few days of being unable to sleep. Everything seems fine at first... but slowly but surely, that lack of sleep will start to take its toll.
Hearing: Most others would feel relief once the ghosts left, finally a moment of peace. But you? You don’t feel anything – nothing kind, anyway. Rather, you have been left unable to feel joy. Everything seems either bleak or as though it simply has no emotional impact at all.
Touch: How many deaths have been caused in the name of heroics? Apparently in an attempt to keep future casualties down (or perhaps for their own laughter), the ghosts have left you unable to be brave. Suddenly, a situation you'd face fearlessly is one that has sent you running, panic sharp in your chest.
These effects will last throughout the event, if a character is caught by them.
PHASE IV [ 1000 ] While chaos erupts throughout the city, some of the more misguided ghosts (but still bloodthirsty, so very bloodthirsty) just happened to run into the wrong part of town and don’t know how to give a proper scaring. One ghost seems to think that it was a great idea to possess a masseusebot from the Spa. You’re grabbed suddenly! You fight for your life but can’t seem to get yourself out of its metal grip! With expert precision that only a robot can mange, it finds your pressure points – and releases all that tension from this Incredibly Bad Day. The ghost inside the robot is confused, distressed -- why is this human suddenly so relaxed? It only wants to murder. But the only illegal thing happening here is how good this massage makes you feel.
Maybe later you’ll walk down the street and get stopped by the ghost that possessed a balloon dispenser. Perhaps a ghost has possessed the friendly McCERES mascot, and is now handing out coupons with murderous intent. And of course, there are always the hug bots...
Look, they tried really hard, okay.
Of course... they might end up possessing technology a little closer to home as well, at which point it's not so funny.
BONUS [ xxxx ] Hopefully you have friends who have ghost-fighting skills. Or ghost-taming skills. Or ghost-bellydancing skills, who knows, we won't judge them if you don't. But what of those poor people who come from worlds where the supernatural is some weird television show?
Worry not, poor souls, for CERES is here to provide! Some time after the ruckus begins, characters will find what looks to be a hand-held vacuum cleaner situated innocuously in their rooms (only one per person, you greedy gus). The logo on the side will helpfully inform you that this is of CERES make, because the paper pamphlet beside your new device? Well, it's more like a picture book. Observe Stick-Man Sully as he uses his vacuum cleaner to capture ghosts! Learn from his stellar example! Do not stick the hose in your mouth or attempt to give the vacuum CPR, there's a big X over that picture. Also of the one where Stick-Man Sully sets his captive ghosts free once more, we don't want that, do we?
Your new ghost vacuum should prove effective against any ghastly ghoul that shoots your way, but beware! Should you capture a ghost and not turn in your vacuum to CERES for weekly ghost disposal, your ghost will serenade you in the wee hours of the morning with its song of choice. If you capture a whole horde of ghosts, well, congratulations. You have a boy band living in your vacuum.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
OTA
[The initial fatigue from Ishikirimaru's sickness now registers as a nauseating wave as the spirits break free. So that was what caused the sudden weakening of the saniwa and the rest of the swords.
Well or not, he has his blade ready. Their malice needed to be cleansed if everyone was to be well again.]
phase iii (touch):
[Ghosts part at the blade of the holy sword. Thankfully, with faith meant that Ishikirimaru could have a decent fighting chance.
Though the exposure is gradually taking its toll, combined with his own less than ideal physical condition. In a moment of weakness a ghost takes its chance, and Ishikirimaru drops to his knee, panting heavily.]
Accursed beings...
iii!!
But when she finds him, he was already tired and--] What happened?
no subject
They're still here, and their darkness feels more like a chilling grip that weakens him completely.]
...we need to get out of here.
no subject
Although how does she help Ishikirimaru? He's so tired. She offers her hands at least.]
Yes. Can you run?
no subject
[Running is not easy with his geta, but something in him just switches on that has him pull away swiftly.
One of them swoops past, and Ishikirimaru cowers almost immediately, much to his own surprise as well.]
no subject
Ishikirimaru? Are you alright?
no subject
They'll kill us all... We need to run...
no subject
If Ishikirimaru can't do anything right now, then they need time for him to get himself together. So she grabs his arm so she can try to pull him up and run.]
Then let's go.
no subject
Ishikirimaru slowly moves forward.]
Thank you... I apologize for the trouble...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
iii
Though he's not a holy sword, so he's not nearly as effective...in fact, a ghost might have touched him earlier, though all the confusion and his own fatigue made it difficult for him to tell if it had actually affected him or not. Maybe that cold feeling had been his imagination? Or an added effect of all this evil energy? He has no idea.
...What he does know is that Ishikirimaru seems to be in trouble. The sight, for some reason, doesn't elicit the sort of worry or surprise he'd normally feel, but...still, the uchi quickly goes to kneel by his side. His fox, at least, is reacting appropriately.]
Are you alright, Ishikirimaru-sama...!
no subject
He needs to make sure he is well-protected. Especially from them.]
I am. You should be resting, don't force yourself to fight.
[Well-intentioned hypocrisy at its finest.]
no subject
[Said partly just because this is a Sanjou sword they're talking to, but--no, they're both doing poorly right now, and they're in the middle of a danger zone.
Nakigitsune moves to put a hand on the older sword's arm, a quiet hint that maybe he can help.]
no subject
Thank you. I should be fine. I'll make sure to keep you all sa-
[And he suddenly recoils with a chill to his bones.]
no subject
...Somehow, he feels strangely distant to this whole situation, though the fox continues on as normal.]
Ishikirimaru-sama!?
no subject
I...This is bad...
[A wisp of darkness seemed to rise from his sword form.]
no subject
At least, where he thinks might be away?]
What's going on, are you alright!? Please hold on, we'll get you to safety somehow...!
no subject
This was his reputation, his value being questioned.
He merely gives a weak nod.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
iii
[ The little fox is now at the holy sword's side, blade yet to be unsheathed. A comforting hand on the oodachi's back, and he is closely examining the other's vessel for any damage. ]
... you've been sick, haven't you?
[ It's probably not the time for concern, but Kogitsunemaru does it regardless. ]
no subject
[His vessel is relatively fine physically, but a lingering darkness remains.
A feeling foul and chilling that was like the opposite of the aura the holy sword radiated usually.]
no subject
[ With all of his strength, he tries to pull Ishikirimaru up so that the oodachi could rest on the little fox's shoulder. ]
... together, do you think we are able to stem the flow of evil spirits? I haven't been infected like some of us have been.
[ Kogi's totally pure... ]
no subject
I would hope so... I have a terrible feeling regarding them this time...
['Pure', but at least he's not feeling like death.]
no subject
[ The slightest, cautious frown crosses Kogi's face. ]
Do you think we stand a chance, offensively? Maybe we should fall back, defend the apartment...
no subject
Particularly when it comes to Ishikirimaru's own worth as a weapon.]
I don't know if I can cut away at them this time... Maybe I really have lost my worth.
no subject
You're one of the few holy swords we have here and not just that, you are one of the strongest. You are invaluable, Ishikirimaru-san. [ Warily, he eyes some of the spirits that pass by them... whether they're discouraged from fighting two capable spirits or not, they've been lucky so far. ]
And we shouldn't worry about this time, we should worry about the next time. It's hard to account for some of the restrictions the system places on us.
no subject
Still...]
I have no idea what they did to me, I feel fear now...
[Ishikirimaru feels human, in the worst sense of the word. With all the vulnerabilities associated with it.]
(no subject)